Park City News

Fireworks ban in Summit County proposed

Ban could go into effect Thursday

David Burger, The Park Record

Posted:
07/08/2014 04:50:33 PM MDT

Summit County Fire Warden Bryce Boyer will appear at Wednesday's Summit County Council meeting to recommend a private fireworks ban in all of Summit County after Utah State Forester Brian Cottam stated he supported a ban for the county.

The ban, if approved by the council, would likely go into effect at 12:01 a.m. Thursday and last until Oct. 31, Boyer said.

The ban would not include ammunition or professional pyrotechnic displays overseen by fire department officials.

Boyer said the ban is being recommended because of the dry weather conditions and that numerous fireworks-caused fires over the Fourth of July weekend stretched fire crews thin. "Resources are really short right now," he said.

North Summit Fire District Chief Ken Smith said he would "most definitely" support a fireworks ban after a holiday weekend in which his crews were kept busy. "It's gotten really dry and hot the last three to four days," he said. "I have a saying about cheatgrass. If you stare at it too long, it will bust into flames."

The council has the ultimate authority to approve or deny a ban, but Boyer said the council "looks to us for our expertise" and that he feels "we can justify it."

Council Chairman Chris Robinson said that he too supports a fireworks ban. "It's hard not to support recommendations from our fire professionals," he said. "In the big scheme of things, [fireworks when it is hot and dry] aren't worth the risk.

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Fireworks have already been banned in Park City this season.

In 2013, the private use of all fireworks was banned in late June by former Utah State Forester Dick Buehler.

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